Jack switch



Dec. 29, 1931.

v; A. JOHNSON JACK SWITCH Filed Feb. 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmmwtog li'vz'mAMgason Patented Dec. 29, .1931

* UNITED srATEs PATENT, OFFICE VIV ION A. JOHNSON, 'OF GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR TO SUPREME INSTBU MENTS CORPORATION, .OF GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI no: swr'rcn Application flJedFebruai-y 10,1930. Serial no. 427,381.

This invention relates to a jack switch a simplified construction.

An object of 'my invention is to arrange such a switch that shallbe easily made and assembled, and which shall have the necessar insulatin qualities.

nother 'ob ect is to provide a mounting means which shall maintain the contact and switch structure in assembled relationship. Another object isto support the contacts of arjack in the insulating body of said jack firmly without the use of ordinary fastening means such as screws and'rivets. Other objects of my present invention w ll be ap arent to those skilled inthe art'from the Eellowing description and appended claims. I x f In the drawings accompanying the description 1 g I Fig. 1 is a vertical view ofan assembled switch embodying my invention, c

Fig.2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1 viewed from below, 7 a Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the switch taken along line of Fig. 2 and showingthe j ackpartly inserted, j

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional viewtaken along line 44of Fig.1, f a Fig. 5jis a vertical cross sectional-view of the inner insulating shell of the switch, and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the .form of the contacts used in the switch. 1 H a The swi h 'body 1 consists of an inner shell 2 and threeouter rings 3, 4 and 5, constituting an outershell. The shell2'is made of some suitable insulating material,preferably of moulded bakelite; Shell 21 0mprises a cylinder with an innef'chamber' '6 and an upper circular opening 7 slightly smaller indiameter than the chamber 6. In this opening the metal ring 8 is secured, preferably by moulding the member 2 directly on the ring '8. This ring is provided with internal threads at'9 and usually made ofbrass'. In the side walls jofmember 2. immediatelybelow the opening 7, four apertures 10 are provided for the pur ose of allowing contacts to be inserted in t e interior of said member as will be hereinafter set forth. A groove 11 extends from' the bottom'of each of said apertures 10, each groove terminating in a shoulder 12. Below each groove 11 are two other grooves 13 and 14, each in alinement with groove 11 and with each other. Thus each set of grooves 11, 13

and 14 can be considered to form a single discontinuousv groove. Grooves 13 and 14 end at shoulders 15 and 16 respectively. It is possible, however, to omit the shoulders in said grooves except the one at the bottom of groove 14. Four recesses 17 are provided on the lower end ofthe chamber 6, each in alinement with a set of grooves 11, 13 and 14 for the'purpose of receiving a contact, as will be setforth. a

Each of the rings 3, 4 and 5 are made of some suitable insulating material, preferably laminated bakelite. These rings are made to fitclosely on the exteriorof member 2. The

length of member 3 isequal to the distance from the topof member 2 to shoulder 12 less thethickness ofone of the contactsto be described. The length'of ring 4 is equal to the distance between the shoulders 12 and 15 less the thicknessof a similar contact, and likewise the length of ring 5 is equal to the distance between shoulders 15 and 16 less th 7 thickness of such a contact.

Four of each of the contacts 17,18 and 19 are rovided. Eachof these contacts preferab y are stamped from'phos horous bronze spring stock and are nickel'p ated. Contact 17 comprises a spring arm 18 terminating in a contact plate 19, carrying a contact point 20 on each side of said contact portion, a vering post (not;shown) for the purpose of attaching "an electrical conductor to said lug. Contact 18 comprises a vertical contact plate 24, carrying a contact 25, a horizontal arm 26, a lower vertical arm 27, a shoulder 28 and an upper vertical arm 29. The arm 27'has'offset from one side thereof a lug 30 containing 'tical arm 21 and an offset horizontal lug 22. This lug is apertured at 23 to receive a binda lug 38 with an aperture 39 for the same purpose as are 23 and 31.

The entire switch assembly is adapted to be mounted on a mounting surface such as 40, which may be any suitable switch panel. Member 40 is provided with an aperture 41 in alinement with the opening in ring 8. The sleeve 42 is usually made of metal and is threaded at 43 to engage the threads 9 of the ring 8. Integral with said sleeve is the offset ring 44. The ring 44 is knurled at 45.

The switch is very easily assembled. The contacts 19 are first placed on the member 2, the recess 17 receives the contact plate 32, the shoulder 86 rests on shoulder 16, while the vertical arm 87 is received in groove 14. The ring 5 is now slipped onto the member 2 until it rests on the upper portion of each of the shoulders 36. Thus contacts 19 are retained on member 2 while forming a shoulder against which ring 5 rests. In a like manner contacts 5 are placed on member 2, the shoulder 28 resting on shoulder 15 and also on the upper edge of ring 5, thus retaining ring 5 securely on member 2. Arm 29 is received in groove 13. Ring 4 is now slipped onto memher 2, retaining contacts 18 and being retained thereby in the same manner as is ring 5 and contacts 19. Contacts 17 are now inserted through apertures 10, the arms 21 being received in groove 11 and the shoulder 22 resting on shoulder 12 and retaining ring 4 in like manner as contacts 18 retain ring 5. Ring 3 is now slipped onto member 2 until it abuts against the shoulders 22, thus securely retaining contacts 17 on member 2. The assembly is mounted 011 the member 40 and is securely held in the assembled position merely by inserting sleeve 48 through the aperture 41 and screwing said sleeve into ring 8 until ring 44 firmly clamps the entire switch to the support 40.

It Will be noted that each set of contacts 33, 20, and 25 find themselves exactly in alinement, due to the positioning of the vertical portions 87, 29 and 21 in grooves 14, 13 and 11 respectively, and also that lugs 23, 30, and 38 are easily accessible in the attachment of electrical conductors.

Contact 20 is normally held in engagement with contact 25 due to the biasing action of the spring arm 18. Upon inserting the plug member 46 through opening 47 in member 43, the end 48 of said plug member engages the cam faces 50 of contacts 17 and causes contact 20 to move out 01: engagement with the contacts 25 and into engagement with contacts 33, thus accomplishing the switching action desired.

Various changes and modifications may of course be made within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a jack, an inner insulating shell and an outer insulating shell closely fitting the exterior of said inner shell, a longitudinal groove in the outer wall of said inner shell, said groove terminating in a shoulder, a contact including one portion which is received in said groove, an offset portion resting against said shoulder, said outer shell resting against said ofiset portion, means for maintaining said shells in assembled relationship, and a second contact adapted to be engaged by said first named contact.

2. In a jack switch, an inner insulating shell and an outer insulating shell closely fitting the exterior of said inner shell, a longitudinal groove in the exterior of said inner shell, said groove terminating in a shoulder, a contact including a portion received in said groove, an offset portlon resting against said shoulder, said outer shell resting against said ofi'set portion, a support, means for mounting said shells on said support, said support holding said outer shell against said ollset portion, and a second contact adapted to engage said first mentioned contact.

3. In a jack switch, an inner insulating shell and a plurality of outer insulating shells, each of said outer shells closely fitting the exterior of the inner shell, a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the outer Wall of said inner shell, each groove terminating in a shoulder, a plurality of contacts, one of said contacts including a portion received in one of said grooves and an offset portion resting against the shoulder of said groove, one end of one of said outer shells resting against said offset portion, a second one of said contacts having a portion received in another of said grooves and an offset portion resting against the shoulder of the last mentioned groove, said ofl'set portion also resting against the other end of said last mentioned outer shell, a second one of said outer shells resting against said last mentioned OHSGl) portion, a support, means for securing said shells to said support, said support maintaining said last mentioned outer shell against the offset portion on which it rests.

4. In a jack switch, an inner insulating shell and a plurality of outer insulating shells, each of said outer shells closely fitting the exterior of the inner shell, a longitudinal groove in the outer Wall of said inner shell, said groove terminating in a shoulder, a plurality of contacts, one of said contacts including a portion received in said groove, and an offset portion resting against said shoulder, one end of one of said outer shells resting against said ofi'set portion, a second one of said contacts having a portion received in said groove and an offset portion resting against the other end of said last mentioned outer shell, a second one of said outer shells resting against said last mentioned offset portion, a support, means for securing said shells to said support, said support maintaining said last mentioned outer shell against the offset portion on which it rests.

5. In a jack switch, an inner insulating shell and an outer insulating shell closely fitting the exterior of said inner shell, a longitudinal groove in the exterior of said inner shell, said groove terminating in a shoulder, a contact including a portion received in said groove, an offset portion resting against said shoulder, said outer shell resting against said ofi'set portion, an opening atone end of said inner shell, a su port having an opening alined with said rst opening, a sleeve passing through said latter opening and secured in said former opening, said sleeve having an offset portion resting against the outer side of said support, and a second contact adapted to engage said first contact.

The foregoing specification signed at Greenwood, Mississippi, this 2nd day of January, 1930.

VIVION A. JOHNSON. 

